Mommy & Me Paint Night

This is from A Thrifty Mom where she shows how to paint abstract bubbles in a Mommy & Me paint night. What a super cute idea!

Mommy & Me Paint Night

Summer Bulb Planting Tips

I know this is not what I usually post, but I'm posting things from Facebook so I'm able to pin them to my Pinterest. I love to garden and am always open to tips! Boisterous summer flowering bulbs can be a little intimidating to design with, so I've got some tips for how to plant your lilies, canna and others for maximum impact.Summer Bulb Planting Tips

Pinning From Facebook

It drives me absolutely nuts that I see so many great ideas and recipes on Facebook and I can't pin them to my Pinterest. Ultimately I end up messaging them to myself so I have them stored somewhere but going through to find something specific is an absolute pain in the you-know-what! This post is strictly a trial to see if I am able to link to a Facebook post and pin from this blog post so I can have all these great ideas organized on my Pinterest...Wish me luck! ;)

How To Create a Softbox

*Side Note: I wasn't able to pin from the link because there wasn't an image to pin from so, I did a screenshot of the video to show what the video was about and ta-da! 

*Also, if anyone happens to notice that one of these links no longer works because the video/post was removed from Facebook, please let me know!

Candy Shop Truffle

Another glorious Facebook find!

1 box chocolate cake mix
2 boxes of low fat chocolate jello instant pudding
4 cups of milk (as per the pudding directions)
1/4 cup peanut butter (plus 2 tbsp for drizzling)
1 large container of low fat cool whip
1 bag of mini Reese peanut butter cups (chopped into pieces)
1 large bag of Reese's pieces

Bake the cake as per the directions on the box. Let cool completely.

Let cool whip thaw out until it's easier to spread.

Make the pudding as per the directions on the box, at the very end before you let it set stir in the 1/4 cup of peanut butter. Let set.

Crumble the cake into a trifle dish (or bowl), top with 1/2 of the pudding mixture, then add a layer of cool whip (1/2 the container), and then sprinkle 1/2 of the chopped Reese peanut butter cups and 1/2 the bag of Reese's pieces.

Do another layer exactly the same: cake, pudding, cool whip, candy.

Put the 2 tbsp of peanut butter into the microwave for about 45 seconds to melt, then drizzle over top of the trifle

Lazy Cake Cookies

Another unknown source, I just have a file of screenshots that I save (and totally forget to post). But, holy cow are these delicious!!!

1 box yellow or white cake mix
2 eggs, beaten
5 Tbs melted butter
2 cups M&M's or mini chocolate chips

Mix ingredients together and put in a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.

Peanut Butter Fudge

I'm just going to leave this here...and go stuff my face OM NOM NOM!!!

Guacamole!

This is my new favorite recipe for guac! Huge thank you to the Fab Life Show and Chrissy Teigen for sharing this one!!!

For The Cheesy Guacamole
3 avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 medium onion, diced
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 Tbs chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or more, to taste)

Here's the easy part - mix it all together. Ta-Da!

For The Spicy Pita Chips
3 Tbs butter, melted
3 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp hot sauce (or more to taste)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp paprika (or smoked paprika)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 pitas, each cut into 8 triangles

Bake at 350 until they're brown and crisp

Toasted Sammie!

Running out of ideas for dinner? Looking for something super simple and easy? Make a toasted sammie! These are a favorite go-to and so easy to personalize for each person without making an entirely different meal.

Take a loaf of Italian bread, cut lengthwise and lay open on a baking sheet. Layer with sliced ham, or turkey (or whatever meat you want!), cover with shredded mozzarella cheese and broil for 3-5 minutes. Watch closely because it's easy to overcook these, so pull them once the cheese gets melty. You can add lettuce, mayo, etc, and bon appetit! Add whatever you'd like to have on your "usual" deli style sandwich and enjoy. So simple, so easy!

Source - Little Baby Garvin

Christmas Eve Crockpot Hot Chocolate

This is our new favorite Christmas tradition! Our boys love curling up on the couch with their hot chocolate and watching Rudolf in their new Christmas jammies before tucking in for the night and eagerly waiting for ole' Saint Nick!

1.5 cups heavy cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cherry Crescent Dessert

Another Instagram screenshot...kudos to whoever thought up this delicious number!!!

1 can cherry pie filling
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
8 oz cream cheese

Mix all ingredients together (except for the cherries). Take a can of crescents and spread them out in a ring. Top the "ring" with the mixture and the cherries, fold the ends of the crescent over and back according to the crescent can instructions :D

Apple Nutty Toast

This is what happens when I screenshot a photo of food from Instagram...I have no idea who posted it or what it's called, but it looked amazing and it is my new favorite quick breakfast!

Super simple to do...just lightly toast the bread and spread a small amount of butter. Drizzle with honey, then add a layer of nut butter and thinly sliced apples. Top with cinnamon and broil for about 3 minutes. Delish!

Monkey Coffee

Someone shared this in my newsfeed on Facebook. I love coffee and I'll take any excuse to spruce up my mornings on the weekend :P

1 1/2 oz (45 ml) Cake Vodka3/4 oz (25 ml) Baileys3/4 oz (25 ml) AmarettoCreamCoffee ice cubesRim the glass with Chocolate Syrup

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Bake

I loooove grilled cheese and tomato soup and what better way to change up this classic than by making a bake. When I came across this recipe on Taste of Home, I had to make it!

Ingredients

• 3 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
• 1-1/2 teaspoons dried basil, divided
• 12 slices Italian, sourdough or rye bread (1/2 inch thick)
• 6 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1-3/4 cups 2% milk
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Italian cheese blend or part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix cream cheese and 1 teaspoon basil until blended; spread onto six bread slices. Top with mozzarella cheese and remaining bread. Spread outsides of sandwiches with butter. Arrange in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish.
2. In a small saucepan, combine tomato paste, garlic, salt, pepper and remaining basil; cook and stir over medium heat 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
3. Whisk eggs in a large bowl; gradually whisk in a third of the milk mixture. Stir in remaining milk mixture; pour over sandwiches. Sprinkle with Italian cheese blend.
4. Bake, uncovered, 25-30 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Yield: 6 servings.

Boozy Chocolate Pudding

Came across this on Facebook and it looked too good not to share! Can't wait to try this one out!

Skillet Cake

Ingredients for Skillet Cake:

• 1 Box of cake mix of your choosing. We used Devils Food Cake.
• One can of frosting of your choice. We chose chocolate.
• 1/2 cup of pecans cut up into pieces.

Directions for Skillet Cake:
Mix your cake batter according to box directions, spray Pam or use butter to grease the skillet. We use a 10 inch cast iron skillet. Pre heat oven according to box directions. Pour mixed batter into skillet and bake according to box directions.
While cake is baking you can put your frosting into a bowl and add Pecans. Stir in Pecans. Set aside until the cake is ot of the oven and cooled off some. We left out a few to garnish the top with!
Add your frosting and scatter the Pecans over the top! Now my favorite part! Go get you some Ice Cream out and put 2-3 big scoops on your Cake and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

• ice cream (for serving)
• caramel sauce (for serving)
• whipped cream (for serving) 

Source - Backroads Living

Homemade Bagels

This past weekend I attempted to make homemade bagels. I have to say, for my first try, they taste great! I was expecting them to be a lot harder to make. I stuck with plain to make sure the actual bagel tasted good before I ventured off and started messing with flavors and toppings. But, next time I will definitely be experimenting with cinnamon raisin! Anyway, here is the recipe!

Ingredients:

For the Bagels:

1 1/4 c. Water
4 1/2 c. Bread Flour
3 TBS White Sugar
1 tsp Salt
2 TBS Vegetable Oil
1 TBS Instant Yeast
4 Quarts Water
1 c. Honey (optional)

For the Toppings:

2 TBS Poppy Seeds (optional)
2 TBS Sesame Seeds (optional)
1 TBS Coarse Salt (optional)
2 TBS Dried Onion Flakes (optional)


Directions:

1. Combine 1 1/4 cup water, flour, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, vegetable oil, and yeast in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed using the dough hook until well-developed, about 8 minutes. To ensure the gluten has developed fully, cut off a walnut-sized piece of dough. Flour your fingers, and then stretch the dough: if it tears immediately, the dough needs more kneading. Fully developed dough should form a thin translucent "windowpane."
2. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and let rise for 2 hours.
3. Punch the dough down, place it on a lightly floured work surface, and use a knife or dough scraper to divide the dough into 6 pieces (or more, for smaller bagels). Roll each piece of dough into a sausage shape about 6 inches long. Join the ends to form a circle. Repeat with the remaining dough, and let the bagels rest for 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange small plates with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and onion flakes next to the baking sheet.
5. Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add honey, if desired (see Editor's Note). Boil the bagels, three at a time, until they rise to the surface of the pot, about 1 minute per side. Remove the bagels with a slotted spoon and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Dip the tops of the wet bagels into the toppings and arrange them, seeds up, on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven until the bagels begin to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Source - All Recipes

Seven Layer Salad

Seven Layer Salad with Creamy Salsa Vinaigrette

 

Ingredients:
- For the Dressing
1/2 cup Greek yogurt or coconut milk
1/2 cup your favorite mild or medium Salsa
2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil (unrefined, cold-pressed, extra-virgin)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 heaping tablespoon chopped green onions
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

- For the Salad
1 to 2 heads romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 

1 medium red onion, sliced or chopped, your choice
1/2 cup green olives, sliced
3/4 cup corn kernels (thawed from frozen or fresh from the cob - no need to cook) OR you could always substitute with fresh mango.
1 avocado, pit removed, peeled and chopped
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered (about 2 cups after slicing)
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, dill, and/or basil, chopped

 

Instructions:

To Make The Dressing

1. Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth. Taste, and add more salt as needed. Set aside (refrigerate if making ahead).

To Assemble The Salad

1. General note: if your bowl is wide, ring your ingredients against the glass and fill the center with romaine lettuce as you build the layers. This creates a nice balance of greens to veggies when you spoon down into the bowl.
2. In a medium glass salad bowl (about 90 ounces), spread a thin layer of romaine lettuce. Spoon black beans over the lettuce. Add red onions over the black beans, followed by a layer of olives, then corn, avocados, bell peppers, and top with cherry tomatoes.
3. Sprinkle herbs over the cherry tomatoes.
4. If you're not using romaine lettuce to fill the center of the bowl, serve lettuce in a separate bowl tossed lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
5. Serve the creamy salsa vinaigrette dressing on the side.

 

 

Source - SoupAddict

S'mores Cookie Cake

This has been a hit at all of our summer parties and I'm definitely glad I got the recipe from my friend! It is the perfect way to serve s'mores to the masses and it is so simple to make!

Ingredients
1 pouch (1lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 cups milk chocolate chips (18oz)
4 1/2 cup mini marshmallows

Directions
1. Heat the oven to 375F. In a large bowl, stir together the cookie mix and graham cracker crumbs. Stir in the melted butter until a soft dough forms. Press into an ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
2. Bake 18-20 minutes or until set. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on. Allow to melt and spread the chocolate as evenly as possible across the cookie. Top with the marshmallows and broil in the oven for 1-2 minutes or until marshmallows are "toasted".

Chocolate Bomb Pudding Shots

Came across this recipe on Facebook one day and it is the PERFECT adult style pudding! I will definitely be making these a standard "dish" at our adult game nights (Cards Against Humanity, anyone?) Anyway, here's how to make them...

Ingredients:
small box of chocolate instant pudding
3/4 c Kahlua
3/4 c Coconut Rum
4oz Cool Whip (extra creamy preferred, but not required)

Directions:
Whisk Kahlua and Instant Pudding together until thick (about 1-2 minutes)

Once thickened, add rum and whisk until all lumps and clumps are gone.

Once smooth, whisk in Cool Whip.

Fill almost 3/4 of a 1oz plastic shot cup (or whatever you choose to put your shots in).

Cover and place in the freezer.

*It does take several hours to set, I usually set them overnight.
**Also, I recommend serving with spoons as it is more of a pudding consistency :)

For more great pudding shot recipes visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/puddingshots1

Peep Update

It's hard to believe the peeps are almost 6 weeks old already. We finished building the extra run and mini coop and moved the meat chickens, Australorps and the hatchlings outside. Everyone is fully feathered except for our little guys, but they're nearly there. Everyone is enjoying the much larger space and this also introduces them to rest of the brood.

We have 3 more peeps that hatched on 4/10 and another dozen due any day now. Once those two hatches are feathered out, they'll be added with the rest of this years' peeps. I'm hoping that by the end of the summer everyone will be big enough to combine them with our brood. Not to mention that the run they are in now will hopefully be the home to some turkeys.